Koreans in Europe: Son Heung-min dominates as Spurs thump Newcastle 4-1

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Koreans in Europe: Son Heung-min dominates as Spurs thump Newcastle 4-1

Published: 11 Dec. 2023, 08:46 Updated: 11 Dec. 2023, 17:51

JIM BULLEY
jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot during a Premier League match against Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

The Son Heung-min show was out in full force as Tottenham Hotspur ran riot over Newcastle on Sunday, the Korean captain approaching the 4-1 win with a raw ferocity rarely seen from the Premier League’s most affable man.

It wasn’t that Son appeared angry or aggressive at Tottenham Hotspur Road in London — the Spurs captain was as polite and smiley as ever — just grimly determined to get the job done and very committed to leaving everything on the pitch.

Football is a team game until it isn’t, and Sunday’s win was almost entirely of Son’s making.

The captain assisted Destiny Udogie for the first goal in the 26th minute and Richarlison for the second in the 38th. Richarlison scored another with the help of Pedro Porro at the top of the second half, with Son finally getting one of his own from a penalty in the 85th.

As if the goal and two assists were not enough, Son led the rout from the left wing, playing out wide to make room for Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski in the center.

The unorthodox change did not seem to make any difference whatsoever to the Spurs captain. He traumatized Kieran Trippier with his speed and footwork, embarrassing the English defender as he ran circles around him.

The result was a ringing endorsement not just for Son’s captaincy and Ange Postecoglou’s leadership, but for the flexibility of the club.

For a team with such an established history of falling back into the same mistakes and choking under pressure that “Spursy” could almost find its way into the dictionary, the adaptability on display in the Newcastle win is evidence yet again that although Tottenham may not be shooting straight to the top of the table this year, there is a significant change going on in N17 that surely has to pay dividends eventually.

“I thought Sonny really set the tone for us early on,” Postecoglou said after the game. “Whenever he got the ball he was really positive with it. That's what you need from leadership and I think the rest of the lads fed off that and we were a lot more threatening in that front third than we have been.

“I thought we got the goals we deserved and could have had a couple more at least. So yeah really pleased with that aspect.”

Sunday’s game takes Son to 10 goals and four assists on the season so far, entering double digits for the eighth consecutive campaign.

Speaking after the game, Son said he learned a lot from former teammate Harry Kane when it came to taking penalties.

"I thought today was fantastic," Son told Sky Sports. "I hope we can continue to perform like this and stay humble.

"We said we had to be more ruthless. We were ruthless today and were creating chances. To beat Newcastle 4-1 is not easy. They are a very strong side, so credit all the players and fans. We have to demand more and more from each other. It's never enough. Those amazing teams always keep going. It should be a habit for us. If we continue to be strong like this, we will be a very good side.

"I practiced all the time, even when Harry was here. And I learned a lot from him."

Son and the Spurs squad get a shortened week of rest after Sunday’s game, returning to the pitch on Friday as they head into a fairly easy spell with Nottingham Forest on the road followed by Everton at home, Brighton and Bournemouth to round out the year.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]